Is making the markings in the devotional books allowed?
A Girl devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
“Hare Krishna Prabhuji. Dandavat Pranams. I would like to read all book written by Srila Prabhupada. Especially I wish that every time I open some book and try to see through pages of it, if highlights has been made, then it is easy for me to recall the points from it again. But some devotees say that we should not make markings in BG and SB. So could u say me whether we shall make markings in it. If so we should not do,then please give me some tips to make note of important in points.”
REPLY:
I need to give a practical reply for this question.
See, a deity or Picture of God is to keep in a particular place and worship!
We should not handle the deities or pictures as we like and we should not carry them from a place to place unnecessarily.
(The devotional books that are the gems of India – A review! READ HERE!)
But, the books are not like that.
The books should be used, ie read and carried wherever we go.
We can take the books even while travelling and staying in any out station.
Deities or Pictures are to be worshiped, whereas the books are to be used, ie read.
So, the books may even get mutilated or torn because of repeated reading.
It is not wrong if the books get damaged because of reading it.
Similarly, we may like to highlight some points in the books.
(Why there are some book changes in Prabhupada books? READ HERE!)
The general advice is not to write on the books unnecessarily because there is no difference between Krishna and the literatures related to Krishna.
For example, Krishna lives in Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatham.
So, to prevent disrespect to Krishna, it is advised to avoid writing on the books related to Krishna.
However, in any activity, the purpose for which we do is to be considered.
You like to highlight some lines or words on the pages so that you can read those portions again and again.
Since the purpose of marking or highlighting is good and to read again and again, it is not an offensive act to mark on the devotional books.
(Tips to read Srila Prabhupada’s Books to Learn Krishna Consciousness! READ HERE!)
Some may argue that the books lose their originality or purity when we mark on them.
My reply for them is that the books are to be read, not just to perform pujas.
So, to read better again and again, it is not wrong to make the markings on the devotional books. Krishna is very merciful. He will not punish for such genuine markings that are done with utmost eagerness.
Keep the markings limited and small. Don’t handle the book in an irresponsible manner.
I too have that habit of making some markings whenever any word or sentence attracts me.
If you still have any hesitation, you can keep two copies of the same books. One can be used to read and another for keeping in Pujas.
I have kept a copy of Bhagavad Gita As It Is and Krishna Vook in my Altar as I consider them as Krishna Himself. I don’t use them to read.
I use separate copies for reading.
You too can do so. However, keeping Bhagavad Gita in the altar is not necessary. I do that because they remind me to read Bhagavad Gita every day and I treat Gita and Krishna as the same.
Hope you are clear whether making the markings in the devotional books allowed or not.
(HOW TO READ SRIMAD BHAGAVATHAM IN 7 DAYS? READ HERE!)